fix

Disagree. Big fat knobby tires that actually roll and don't pop when you ride are the best thing ever. You can't say discs are the best after you see CX guys training on cantis on the same trails the FS Disc guys are doing.

isotopesope

as for brakes, have you considered center pulls? like old mafac racer's? paul also makes some too. they'd have more clearance than a caliper would.

shapelike

Okay, race downhill w/ cantis then. Weee-COMPOUND FRACTURE.

fix

Ok, race uphill with 8" disc rotors then. Wee, dropped after four seconds.

dutret

That is more a factor of the 8" travel and 40lbs weight of the bike then just the rotors themselves.

Cantilevers may be workable but vbrakes were a huge improvement and discs even better for some conditions.

The only cross guys I ever see may be going faster then some weekend warrior with more bike and travel then they know what do with but nowhere near as fast as even a mediocre xc rider and they are constantly hopping on and off the bike.

jaypee

Ok, I'm running Delgados so I should be fine. I'll probably have to cut up my fenders but that's usually to be expected.

fix

If you gave me a set of disc brakes, I would certainly use them. XC racers are faster on XC bikes and XC terrain than cross racers on cross bikes on a cross course. I just don't think discs are the best thing to ever happen to mountain biking, because many very good riders get along just fine with V's or Cantis.

Aeroplane

I can see what you are saying. The old "If it's good enough for them, why shouldn't it be good enough for me?" I felt the same way for a long time. Then I rode with discs. It is incredible to be able to apply and modulate your brakes all the way down a long descent without fading. It is awesome to fall in the mud and not have your braking compromised for the rest of the ride. Is it joyous to be able to replace pads without taking a half-hour to adjust them so they don't squeal. It is wonderful to have brake pads that last more than 30 rides. It is super to not have to have my wheels trued perfectly in order to avoid brake rubbing. I could go on and on, but I'm probably being a little too evangelical as it is.

jaypee

Got my frame and fork (56cm Steamroller) and started putting it all together. With Salsa Delgado's and Conti 37's, I still have plenty of clearance for fenders with a bit of modification. Truth be told, I was expecting to have to cut 'em up a little bit. Fleet Farm is your friend for all manner of little hardware bits and pieces at 8:00 PM. Pics to follow...

onceinalifetime

moustache bars and cruiser bars are not the same thing.

kbjack

The 30mm (Ritchey Speedmax Cx) tires work fine. Not quite the fatty blunt I expected to roll, but it'll work for a snow bike, and we'll see how it handles some of the trails when the snow disappears. jaypee, what fenders are you using?

onceinalifetime, thanks for the handlebar 101. The robin hood cruiser doesn't have cruiser bars; it has mustache bars. Sorry for your confusion.

good neighbor

i am running at 37c WTB Riddler and having the same issue with brake calipers. Any other advice?